[net.consumers] Bugzappers, what do they really do?

robison@eosp1.UUCP (Tobias D. Robison) (07/16/84)

References:

When bugzappers "work" (i.e., kill insects), do they have any
real effect on the concentration of insects near the zapper?
What is the radius within which they are effective?  Could it
be that, given the millions of bugs out there, they are not really
effective within even a ten foot radius?  I'm just curious...
					- Toby Robison (not Robinson!)
					allegra!eosp1!robison
					decvax!ittvax!eosp1!robison

werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (Werner Uhrig) (07/16/84)

hmmmm,
	let's see now.  If I put a zapper in my backyard,  I imagine
	that somehow it attracts bugs from a considerable distance
	away.  So I imagine all bugs around in a continuous, if slow
	migration towards the zapper, circular waves in regression
	towards a point.

	Could it be that the density of bugs in close near the zapper
	stays more or less the same as ever more of neighbor's bugs
	come to investigate this irresistable blue light (and biting
	most anything on their way there) ???  So who is really getting
	the benefit, is my neighbor  ?????

			.....hmmmmm

P.S.:  my neighbor has a zapper, I don't ....		(-:

mikey@trsvax.UUCP (07/19/84)

#R:eosp1:-100100:trsvax:70900012:000:470
trsvax!mikey    Jul 18 17:49:00 1984



You'll have a higher concentration of bugs around the zapper.  They attract
more than they kill.  They are somewhat effective if you mount them up
high at some distance from where you'll be in the yard.  For example, 
mount the zapper about 8-10 feet in the air about 50 feet from your
picnic table.  It will draw insects from the picnic area to the zapper.
If you light the picnic area with bulbs that attract bugs, you'll be
defeating the zapper.


mikey at trsvax

hania@rabbit.UUCP (Hania Gajewska) (07/25/84)

This may be of  interest to potential bug zapper
buyers who own dogs: if your dog panics during thunder storms,
it may react the same way when you turn on your zapper.
The reason for this is unclearp; it may have to do with
the sound, although some have suggested ozone smell.
Anyhow, if your dog truly suffers from storm phobia
(one of mine does), you probably don't want to bring it
on with a zapper.

   Hania Gajewska